Law Enforcement Sell or Destroy Valuable Property for Political Reasons

Ammoland ^ | 21 October, 2019 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Screenshot from Fox 23 report on April 16, 2019

U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- In April, two Oklahoma law enforcement departments auctioned off guns they had accumulated. The guns had not been used in crimes, but were seized for a variety of reasons. They were turned into the police by people who did not want them. They were seized from prohibited possessors. They were forfeited as part of plea deals.

Oklahoma County auctioned off about 500 firearms they had collected. The guns were sold to dealers with federal firearms licenses (FFL).

Tulsa County auctioned off over 700 firearms. They collected $129,000 from the auction. If the price per firearm in Tulsa averaged the same as in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma County would have received about $92,000. It is a nice chunk of change. Costs to run the auctions for a few FFL dealers are minimal.  From fox23.com:

The sale brought in over $129,000 to offset the department's budget.

There is no practical advantage of destroying guns rather than selling them. If a dealer does not buy a gun at the auction, he simply buys one from a manufacturer.  When the police sell a gun, the money goes to the department instead of a gun manufacturer.  Even broken guns are valuable. Parts outlets will buy broken guns to use for spare parts.

Both Oklahoma County and Tulsa County auctions were conducted by Sheriff departments.

In Oklahoma City and the City of Tulsa, the police departments do not sell the guns they collect. They spend additional money and destroy them.

[marktwain]

Destroying valuable property for ideological purposes is equivalent to superstition.

[Bonemaker]

“In Oklahoma City and the City of Tulsa, the police departments do not sell the guns they collect. They spend additional money and destroy them.”

Chicago does same thing. Totally indifferent to collector value or potential historic significance.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I was at an Oklahoma police auction years ago (Delaware County).

Dull.

Then something like an electric charge went through the crowd and they surged forward! They were selling the guns. Junk guns went for new prices. People lost control and were bidding new prices for old guns.

I could not believe it. The county I live in torches all guns confiscated. Enough to make one cry when you see a nice COLT or S&W being melted for political reasons.

[marktwain]

I have seen that dynamic at many auctions.

Dull. Then they start selling guns.

Excitement, guns going for more than retail!

Amazing.

I have seen it many times.